Windows 11 deployment via WDS

Ingo Böttcher 1 Reputation point
2021-09-01T20:34:46.383+00:00

Hi,

I added a boot.wim and install.wim of the current Windows 11 Insider ISO to a WDS server. When I netboot a client, it will load the boot.wim and show an error message that WDS is not supported with this Windows version anymore. There is a link to aka.ms/WDSSupport but that page says nothing about Windows 11.

I have tried server 2019 and 2022, but same error message on both.

When I switch the boot.wim to a Windows 10 file, it will successfully boot and also use the Windows 11 install.wim.
Is this a bug or is Microsoft really suddenly no longer supporting WDS?

Thx, Ingo

Windows Server Setup
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Windows 11
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  1. Axel Böttcher 1 Reputation point
    2021-10-01T13:31:23.667+00:00

    This is really ridiculous.
    WDS works great, why would they shut down such an easy feature? For small companies and Admin departments that have alot other stuff to do than study deployment methods and buy SystemCenter products all the time, this is really a hit.

    Can someone provide a modified boot.wim that simply lets us capture and install Windows 11 again?

    I tried to understand Lite Touch and MDT for SCCM but I don't have any of the prequesities. I have WDS. Which is good and works just fine. I don't have the time to re-learn and re-build this whole setup for our 80 pple. Especially not since I am alone and am needed elsewhere.

    Microsoft, WHY?


  2. SaintFrag 1 Reputation point
    2023-10-06T17:09:54.8966667+00:00

    Do with it what you will, but .\sources\win32ui.dll may be what triggers the 'deprecated' screen. And since it's essentially version 10.0.2XXXX, you might imagine some options as they relate to a Windows 10 boot.wim file. I'd say this unorthodox route would be a pure stop-gap measure as you explore a future without WDS.

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